Species variation in Rubisco specificity factor

Ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase(Rubisco) washighly purified from nine species native to the Balearic Islands.The specificity factor for Rubisco from each species was determinedand compared with that of wheat. The specificity factors werecomparable with published values for C₃ plants, how-ever, thevalues for three species exceeded those of wheat. Natural selectionin the hot, dry mediterranean conditions of the Balearic IslandMallorca has slightly increased the specificity factor of Rubiscoin some species. Key words: Specificity factor, total consumption, partitioning, carboxylase oxygenase ratios, ribulose bisphosphate, Rubisco, species variation     

Phenotypic similarity and the evolutionary significance of countergradient variation

Countergradient variation is a geographical pattern of genotypes (with respect to environments) in which genetic influences on a trait oppose environmental influences, thereby minimizing phenotypic change along the gradient. Phenotypic similarity across changing environments ought to be of intense interest because it belies considerable genotypic change. When it occurs in characters that are positively associated with fitness, countergradient variation conflicts with the hypothesis that local adaptation to one environment trades off against performance in another environment. Cases of countergradient variation therefore offer unique insight into the mechanisms that produce and maintain phenotypic similarity and/or differences along environmental gradients.     

Comparison of biochemical polymorphisms in mouflon and sheep: isoelectric differences in haemoglobins and quantitative variation of mouflon haemopexin

1. Of ten protein systems studied in mouflon (Ovis musimon), five were polymorphic (Tf, Hpx, EsA, X-protein, Cat). Electrophoretic mobilities of mouflon proteins did not differ from those of sheep. 2. Mouflon haemoglobin B and sheep haemoglobin B differed in isoelectric focusing. 3. Haemopexin levels in mouflon were determined by rocket immunoelectrophoresis. A trimodal distribution was apparent, with no haemopexin, low and high levels of the protein. The results are indicative of genetic control of haemopexin levels, one of the alleles being inactive (Hpx0).     

Species variation in lung antioxidant enzyme activities

Exposure of several different animal models to O2-induced lung injury has revealed marked differences in sensitivity of various species to O2 damage. These differences may be due in part to variation of cellular antioxidant defenses. To characterize lung antioxidant enzyme activities in different species, we measured lung activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GSH S-trans) in rat, hamster, baboon, and human lung. Soluble lung fractions were also fractionated on Sephadex G-150-S columns and GSH-Px activity was measured using both cumene hydroperoxide and H2O2. This was done to evaluate non-Se-dependent GSH-Px activity in these lung samples. Human lung was obtained at surgery from patients undergoing lobectomy or pneumonectomy for localized lung tumors. SOD activity was similar for all four groups. GSH-Px activity was higher in rat lung than baboon or hamster lung. Lung CAT activity was variable with the highest activity present in the baboon which revealed a lung CAT activity 10 times higher than activity present in the rat. Lung GSH S-trans activities were higher in hamster, baboon, and human lung than in rat lung. Non-Se-dependent GSH-Px was present in rat lung but absent in hamster, baboon, and human lung. We conclude that the hamster was the best model of the animals studied for mimicking human lung antioxidant enzyme activities. Rat lung antioxidant enzyme activities were markedly different from any of the other species examined.     

Species variation in BrdUrd-induced sister-chromatid exchanges.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from cattle, pigs, sheep and humans were cultured in the presence of 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10 or 20 micrograms/ml of BrdUrd. Sister-chromatid exchanges were scored in 25 second-division metaphases from each donor at each level of the chemical. Dose--response curves for all 4 species increased steeply to 2 micrograms/ml; above this level, SCE numbers increased less rapidly but maintained a linear relationship to increasing BrdUrd concentration. Comparisons of the straight-line portions of the dose--response curves showed human cells to be significantly more sensitive to increasing BrdUrd level than cow or pig cells and different from sheep at the 10% level of confidence.     

Nonsymbiotic haemoglobins in plants.

General aspects regarding the presence of nonsymbiotic haemoglobin in plants are presented with the emphasis on those related to its function. As it becomes apparent that the nonsymbiotic haemoglobins are widespread across the plant kingdom and that they represent a more primitive and evolutionary older form of the plant globin genes, the question of their function becomes more attractive. While the physiological functions of the symbiotic haemoglobins in plants are well understood, almost nothing is known about their nonsymbiotic predecessors. Therefore, the known and hypothetical functions of haemoglobins in various systems are described along with information concerning properties and the regulation of expression of the nonsymbiotic haemoglobins. Interestingly, a number of nonsymbiotic haemoglobins have been shown to be hypoxia-inducible. The spatial and temporal pattern of this induction in barley may suggest that it is an integral part of the plants response to limiting oxygen stress.     

Geographical variation in mutualistic networks: similarity,turnover and partner fidelity

Although species and their interactions in unison represent biodiversity and all the ecological and evolutionary processes associated with life, biotic interactions have, contrary to species, rarely been integrated into the concepts of spatial β-diversity. Here, we examine β-diversity of ecological networks by using pollination networks sampled across the Canary Islands. We show that adjacent and distant communities are more and less similar, respectively, in their composition of plants, pollinators and interactions than expected from random distributions. We further show that replacement of species is the major driver of interaction turnover and that this contribution increases with distance. Finally, we quantify that species-specific partner compositions (here called partner fidelity) deviate from random partner use, but vary as a result of ecological and geographical variables. In particular, breakdown of partner fidelity was facilitated by increasing geographical distance, changing abundances and changing linkage levels, but was not related to the geographical distribution of the species. This highlights the importance of space when comparing communities of interacting species and may stimulate a rethinking of the spatial interpretation of interaction networks. Moreover, geographical interaction dynamics and its causes are important in our efforts to anticipate effects of large-scale changes, such as anthropogenic disturbances.     

塔里木沙漠公路防护林土壤微生物生物量与土壤环境因子的关系

为探讨极端干旱区风沙土土壤微生物与土壤环境因子的作用规律,采用相关分析法研究了塔里木沙漠公路防护林地土壤微生物生物量与理化因子和酶活性的关系.结果表明：土壤容重和粒径减小（R<-0.84）、含水量和孔隙增大（R>0.85）时,防护林地中土壤微生物数量和生物量有增大趋势,由容重与微生物量的相关性主导;土壤养分含量与土壤微生物数量和生物量呈正相关,主要由速效养分和放线菌、微生物生物量C、P的相关性所致;土壤酶活性与土壤微生物数量和生物量的相关性差异较大,R在0.51～0.91,主要取决于蔗糖酶、磷酸酶与放线菌、微生物量C的相关;土壤盐分增加不利于土壤微生物生物量的积累(R<-0.71);土壤微生物数量与生物量呈较高正相关（R>0.63）.实践中应为干旱区林地土壤微生物营造良好的土体,促进土壤物质循环.     

Haem degradation in abnormal haemoglobins.

The coupled oxidation of certain abnormal haemoglobins leads to different bile-pigment isomer distributions from that of normal haemoglobin. The isomer pattern may be correlated with the structure of the abnormal haemoglobin in the neighbourhood of the haem pocket. This is support for haem degradation by an intramolecular reaction.